Princeton man receives prison sentence

PRINCETON — A Princeton man has been sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in Bureau County Court to the Class 4 felony of theft and the Class 4 felony of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, heroin.

Joshua J. Cutter, 33, entered his guilty plea on Sept. 17 to the Class 4 felony of theft/subsequent offense before Circuit Judge Marc Bernabei and was sentenced to three and one-half years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Cutter was also ordered to pay fines, fees and costs totaling $500 within six months of his release from prison. He was credited with 37 days served in the Bureau County Jail.

On Aug. 9, Cutter entered the Princeton Walmart store where he, without authority, took control of three car stereos and left the building without paying the full retail value. Store personnel contacted the Princeton Police Department and Cutter was identified via the store’s video tape. Cutter was located and, when questioned, admitted to taking the merchandise. Based on a prior forgery conviction in 2009, the theft charge was enhanced to the felony level.

Cutter also entered a guilty plea on Sept. 17 to the Class 4 felony of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, heroin. He received a three and one-half year prison sentence on that charge and was ordered to pay fines, fees and costs totaling $1,000 within six months of his release from prison. He was credited with time served in the county jail.

The prison sentences will run concurrently.

In March 18, Cutter’s parole officer conducted an unannounced home visit and noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view in Cutter’s apartment. Cutter admitted ownership of the paraphernalia. A spoon used to cook heroin was taken which contained heroin residue, as confirmed by a lab test.

Cutter was represented in court by Assistant Public Defender Eric May. Prosecuting the case was First Assistant State’s Attorney Anthony Sciuto.

Cutter has prior misdemeanor convictions of possession of cannabis in 2006, disorderly conduct in 2008, and theft in 2011. He has prior felony convictions of burglary in 1996, forgery in 2009, and residential burglary in 2010.